Empowering Farmers through Capacity Building in Organic and Natural Farming at KVK Howrah

18 December 2025, Howrah

A Farmers’ Training-cum-Demonstration Programme on Organic and Natural Farming was successfully organised today at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Howrah, jointly by the Regional Centre for Organic and Natural Farming (RCONF), Bhubaneswar, and KVK Howrah, under the aegis of ICAR–Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata. The programme aimed to strengthen farmers’ knowledge and skills in sustainable, chemical-free farming practices through expert interactions and hands-on demonstrations.

Addressing the participants virtually, Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Kolkata, aligned the deliberations with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 and highlighted the pivotal role of KVKs as grassroots catalysts for climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural transformation. He encouraged farmers to progressively adopt organic and natural farming systems by strategically integrating locally available resources and indigenous knowledge with scientifically validated practices. He emphasized that such synergy is crucial for enhancing farm resilience, improving productivity, ensuring environmental sustainability, and contributing meaningfully to the goal of a self-reliant and developed India by 2047.

Dr. Manoj Kumar, Assistant Director, RCONF, Bhubaneswar (East Zone), highlighted the institutional support available for farmers transitioning to organic and natural farming systems and stressed the importance of quality organic inputs and robust certification mechanisms.

The Head, KVK Howrah, delivered the welcome address, underscoring the significance of organic and natural farming in improving soil health, reducing input costs, and promoting environmental sustainability.

The technical sessions covered key aspects including the fundamentals and quality standards of organic inputs, soil health management and nutrient cycling, extension strategies and farmer-led innovations in natural farming, and hands-on training on the preparation and application of bio-inputs for organic and natural farming.
Overall, the programme facilitated effective capacity building, knowledge exchange, and experiential learning among 50 farmers from six blocks of Howrah district, reaffirming the collective commitment of ICAR, RCONF, and KVKs to promoting sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture.

(Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kolkata)